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Richmond - Golden Star Café  Chinese &amp; Soul Food

So Im ordering a durian shake with tapioca at the new Pho 89 in San Pablo and a woman looking confused about Vietnamese food asks me how it tastes. I admit this is my first taste of durian, but this new restaurant looks so nice I thought Id give it a try.

So we are waiting for our orders and she says she tried pho once and didnt like it and we start chatting about that, me with my pho-ny baloney expertise talking about perhaps it was a bad version and it wasnt a good broth (sheesh). She said it wasnt the broth because it was the stuff they put in it well, what are you going to do?

Anyway she says shes glad they have American food on the menu like chicken wings and pork chops with eggs. Im thinking hmmm and I ask if she has any favorite restaurants in the area.

So she starts talking about this restaurant in downtown Richmond that serves Chinese food and soul food. When I ask whats good, she says, kind of dreamily, everything.

It turns out this Chinese place has been in business over 30 years and was recently sold to an African American who is keeping the Chinese menu (actually Chinese American), but has added soul food. So off I go to Richmond to check it out sipping the durian shake.

Never in a million years would you guess this place serves soul food never. It is on MacDonald across the street from Burger King and a block away from BART. Close to Kaiser.

I didnt have a name but circled around, and after weeding out everything else, decided this must be it. I actually didnt even go in. I called the number on the sign and asked if this was the Chinese restaurant serving soul food. The very nice (former?) Chinese owner came out and gave me menus.

So, Im just passing this info on. Somewhere after Easter I really do have to resurrect my diet and may not get there. It doesnt look heavily soul food, but there might be specials inside.

Then they have food they serve every day like Fried Chicken, Chicken Fried Steak, Liver with onion or Bacon (now theres an idea), Roast Pork with Dressing, Roast Young Turkey with Dressing, Roast Beef with Brown Gravy and a few more items. They are mainly in the $6 range.

The one that interests me is the Choice Eastern Pork Chops. Well, I wonder what makes Eastern Pork Chops so choice.

The Chinese menu is pretty standard. Im not sure what Chinese Green soup is. They have bacon fried rice which seems like a good idea (insert Homer Simpson sounds).

The American menu on the Chinese menu has standard breakfasts and sandwiches like burgers, ham and cheese, chicken, BLTs,. They have a fried egg sandwich for $1.95. Theres also a Denver sandwich. The also have Hot Turkey, Hot Pork or Hot Beef sandwiches.

So, at this point all I can do is pass the info on if anyone in the area is interested. Sounds interesting to me but tomorrow is Good Friday, I have plans Saturday and they seem to be closed Sunday.

You probably have most of the ingredients on hand for these simple, elegant crab cakes; just make a quick run to the seafood market for fresh lump crabmeat. Toss together a bright, seasonal salad while the crab cakes chill.